The first Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellows have been appointed, and will conduct “ground-breaking” work on AI’s biggest challenges.
The fellowships, named after AI pioneer Alan Turing, are part of the UK’s commitment to further strengthen its position as a global leader in the field.
Retaining and attracting some of the best international research talent in a highly competitive international environment will increase the UK’s competitive advantage and capability in AI, according to the fellowship.
The fellows’ research will aim to transform the international AI research and innovation landscape by tackling some of the fundamental challenges in the field. It could also deliver major societal impact in areas including decision-making in personalised medicine, synthetic biology and drug design, financial modelling, and autonomous vehicles.
The new fellows are:
- Professor Zoubin Ghahramani, University of Cambridge
- Professor Samuel Kaski, The University of Manchester
- Professor Mirella Lapata, University of Edinburgh
- Professor Philip Torr, University of Oxford
- Professor Michael Wooldridge, University of Oxford
Government chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said: “These five internationally-recognised researchers appointed as the first Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellows will help enable us to attract top talent from across the globe and ensure that the UK stays at the forefront of AI research and innovation.
“This expertise will increase the UK’s capabilities in AI and equip us to face greater and more complex challenges.”
The fellows are supported with an £18m investment by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). In addition to this, 39 different collaborators including IBM, AstraZeneca and Facebook are making contributions worth £15.7m to the fellows’ research programmes.
The fellowships are being delivered by UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
EPSRC executive chair, Lynn Gladden, added:“The Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellowships recognise internationally-leading researchers in AI, and provide the support needed to tackle some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in AI research.
“These fellowships enable the UK to attract top international talent to the UK as well as retaining our own world-leaders. Attracting and retaining top talent is essential to keep the UK at the leading edge of AI research and innovation.”
